to play that debt ceiling game, or i'm not going to negotiate cuts with the debt ceiling. republicans say, well, they are -- they're going to demand cuts, or they won't raids the debt ceiling -- raise the debt ceiling. this is the frustration among conservatives, that the cuts always come later, they don't come now. and that's why there are going to be a lot of no votes from house republicans. rick: i remember president bush's second term statement that he had collected political capital, and he intended to use it. on the president's side here, how much political capital has he spent on this deal right now? >> well, he certainly spent some. he's going to spend a lot on immigration reform. that's going to be a very difficult fight. he also wants to move energy and gun control. i doubt he has the votes on any major gun control effort, but that's going to move very quickly early next year. so i think he spent some. the polls indicate he's in good standing now -- rick: right. >> but republicans say he's at the highest standing he will be probably for the rest of his term and,